Device and method for controlling azimuth beamwidth across a wide frequency range

Abstract

A system and method for controlling azimuth beamwidth in a wide band antenna array, the system including radiating element(s) disposed above a ground plane and parasitic element(s). The parasitic element(s) include a slot formed therein, the parasitic element(s) and slot(s) configured to control beamwidth across a specific frequency range. The parasitic element(s) and the slot(s) may be configured to control beamwidth across contiguous or non-contiguous frequency ranges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antenna comprising:
 a conductive ground plane;   a radiating element; and   two conductive parasitic elements laterally disposed on opposing sides of the radiating element, each of the conductive parasitic elements comprising an elongate conductive member and an elongate opening,   wherein the antenna is configured to radiate or receive a radio frequency signal with a substantially constant azimuth beamwidth over an extended frequency range.   
     
     
         2 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the radiating element comprises a crossed-dipole antenna comprising two orthogonal elongate conductive dipole elements oriented to radiate or receive signals with a linear polarisation inclined +45 degrees and −45 degrees from the vertical. 
     
     
         3 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the radiating element comprises a dual-polar patch element oriented to radiate or receive signals with a linear polarisation inclined +45 and −45 degrees from the vertical. 
     
     
         4 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two conductive parasitic elements comprises:
 a first elongate conductive member;   an elongate opening disposed within the first elongate conductive member; and   a second elongate conductive member disposed within the elongate opening.   
     
     
         5 . The antenna of  claim 4 , wherein the second elongate conductive member comprises a second elongate opening disposed within the second elongate conductive member. 
     
     
         6 . The antenna of  claim 4 , wherein the first elongate conductive member and the second elongate conductive member are substantially co-planar in a plane in front of the ground plane. 
     
     
         7 . The antenna of  claim 4 , wherein the first elongate conductive member is disposed a first distance in front of the ground plane and the second elongate conductive member is disposed a second distance above the ground plane. 
     
     
         8 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the extended frequency range comprises two non-contiguous frequency ranges. 
     
     
         9 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the extended frequency range comprises a frequency range from 698 to 960 MHz. 
     
     
         10 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the extended frequency range comprises a frequency range from 1700 to 3000 MHz. 
     
     
         11 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the extended frequency range comprises frequencies from 698 to 960 MHz and from 1710 to 2700 MHz. 
     
     
         12 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the radiating element comprises a first radiating element configured to radiate or receive a first radio frequency signal with a substantially constant azimuth beamwidth over a first frequency range, and
 a second radiating element configured to radiate or receive a second radio frequency signal with a substantially constant azimuth beamwidth over a second frequency range.   
     
     
         13 . The antenna of  claim 12 , wherein the second radiating element is laterally disposed relative to the first radiating element and the first radiating element and the second radiating element have a common direction of maximum radiation. 
     
     
         14 . The antenna of  claim 12 , wherein the first radiating element and the second radiating element are electrically connected to a common feed network. 
     
     
         15 . An antenna comprising:
 a conductive ground plane;   a radiating element disposed in front of the ground plane; and   a box structure comprising four conductive planes disposed around the radiating element,   wherein two of the four conductive planes each comprises an opening, each of the openings comprising a first elongate linear region and a second elongate linear region,   wherein the longitudinal axis of the first elongate linear region is vertically disposed at an angle greater than or equal to 20 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the second elongate linear region.   
     
     
         16 . The antenna of  claim 15 , wherein each of the openings further comprises a third linear region,
 wherein the first elongate linear region and the second elongate linear region are connected by the third linear region, and   wherein the third linear region is substantially parallel to the conductive ground plane.   
     
     
         17 . The antenna of  claim 15 , wherein each opening comprises a first conductive parasitic member disposed within each opening. 
     
     
         18 . The antenna of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first conductive parasitic members comprises a first elongate linear region and a second elongate linear region, wherein the first elongate linear region of the first conductive parasitic member is disposed substantially parallel to the first elongate linear region of the opening and the second linear region of the first conductive parasitic member is disposed substantially parallel to the second elongate linear region of the opening. 
     
     
         19 . The antenna of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first conductive parasitic members comprises a non-conductive area disposed within each of the first conductive parasitic members. 
     
     
         20 . The antenna of  claim 19 , wherein each of the non-conductive areas comprises a first elongate linear region and a second elongate linear region, wherein the first elongate linear region of the non-conductive area is disposed substantially parallel to the first elongate linear region of the first conductive parasitic element and the second elongate linear region of the non-conductive area is disposed substantially parallel to the second elongate linear region of the first conductive parasitic element. 
     
     
         21 . The antenna of  claim 20 , wherein each non-conductive area comprises a second conductive parasitic member disposed within each non-conductive area. 
     
     
         22 . The antenna of  claim 21 , wherein each of the second conductive parasitic members comprises a first elongate linear region and a second elongate linear region, wherein the first elongate linear region of the second conductive parasitic member is disposed substantially parallel to the first elongate linear region of the non-conductive area and second elongate linear region of the second conductive parasitic member is disposed substantially parallel to the second elongate linear region of the non-conductive area. 
     
     
         23 . The antenna of  claim 15 , wherein the radiating element comprises a crossed-dipole antenna comprising two orthogonal elongate conductive dipole elements oriented to radiate or receive signals with a linear polarisation inclined +45 degrees and −45 degrees from the vertical. 
     
     
         24 . The antenna of  claim 15 , wherein the radiating element comprises a dual-polar patch element oriented to radiate or receive signals with a linear polarisation inclined +45 and −45 degrees from the vertical. 
     
     
         25 . The antenna of  claim 15 , wherein the antenna is configured to transmit or receive a radio frequency signal with a substantially constant azimuth beamwidth over an extended frequency range. 
     
     
         26 . The antenna of  claim 15 , wherein the antenna is configured to radiate or receive a radio frequency signal with a substantially constant azimuth beamwidth, a high rate of roll-off, and a large front-to-back ratio over an extended frequency range. 
     
     
         27 . The antenna of  claim 15 , wherein the radiating element comprises a first radiating element configured to radiate or receive a first radio frequency signal with a substantially constant azimuth beamwidth over a first frequency range, and
 a second radiating element configured to radiate or receive a second radio frequency signal with a substantially constant azimuth beamwidth over a second frequency range.   
     
     
         28 . The antenna of  claim 27 , wherein the second radiating element is laterally disposed relative to the first radiating element and the first radiating element and the second radiating element have a common direction of maximum radiation 
     
     
         29 . The antenna of  claim 27 , wherein the first radiating element and the second radiating element are electrically connected to a common feed network. 
     
     
         30 . An antenna, comprising:
 a ground plane;   a first radiating element configured to radiate or receive a first radio frequency signal over a first frequency range;   a second radiating element configured to radiate or receive a second radio frequency signal over a second frequency range; and   a first elongate conductive parasitic member comprising a first elongate opening, laterally disposed relative to the first radiating element,   wherein the first elongate conductive parasitic member and the first elongate opening are configured to reduce an azimuth beamwidth and a variation of the azimuth beamwidth of the first radio frequency signal over the first frequency range.   
     
     
         31 . The antenna of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a second elongate conductive parasitic member comprising a second elongate opening, laterally disposed relative to the second radiating element,   wherein the second elongate conductive parasitic member and the second elongate opening are configured to reduce an azimuth beamwidth and a variation of the azimuth beamwidth of the second radio frequency signal over the second frequency range.   
     
     
         32 . The antenna of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a third elongate conductive parasitic member comprising a third elongate opening, laterally disposed between the first radiating element and the second radiating element; and   a fourth elongate conductive parasitic member disposed within third elongate opening,   wherein the third elongate conductive parasitic element, the third elongate opening, and the fourth elongate conductive parasitic element are configured to reduce the azimuth beamwidth and the variation of the azimuth beamwidth of both the first and the second radio frequency signals.   
     
     
         33 . The antenna of  claim 32 , wherein the fourth elongate conductive parasitic member comprises a fourth elongate opening. 
     
     
         34 . The antenna of  claim 32 , wherein the third elongate conductive parasitic member and the fourth elongate conductive member are substantially co-planar in a plane in front of the ground plane. 
     
     
         35 . The antenna of  claim 32 , wherein the third elongate conductive parasitic member is disposed a first distance in front of the ground plane and the fourth elongate conductive parasitic member is disposed a second distance above the ground plane.